Which Type of Fitness Should You Choose?

Are you trying to decide which type of fitness you should choose? Maybe you’re thinking about Pilates (always a good idea in my books) – it’s all the rage right now and sounds fun. Or maybe you’re thinking about taking up running for your heart health. And I’m sure you’ve heard how important strength training is, especially for perimenopausal and menopausal women. So, how do you decide? 

The good thing is, you don’t have to pick just one thing! There are definitely some things to consider, however.  

Look at Your Current Fitness Routine

What you do now for exercise can help you pick which type of fitness you should choose next. 

If you are brand new to exercise… Pick one thing. Stepping into fitness again for the first time or after time away can be a challenge because adding anything new to your routine takes a bit of effort. A good way to ensure success is to work yourself in slowly; start with something two to three times a week. It’s also a great motivator to have an appointment to show up to. 

I have a lot of clients who start with Pilates one day a week. Then they bump up to two… Once they see how good Pilates makes them feel, they often either add a third class or start another form of exercise outside of the studio. I have clients who do Pilates and bootcamp, use their home gym, do yoga, run, or do HIIT classes. 

If you already have a good routine but need a change… Try Pilates! Whether you feel like you’re in a rut or you have a nagging pain or injury, Pilates is a great place to turn to. That’s how I got started. I was getting over-use injuries and tried Pilates. I discovered that I hadn’t been moving as well as I could or with much awareness. Pilates was the missing element that I needed. 

I have many active clients who’ve added Pilates to help with flexibility and mobility, but also discovered that they have a lot of little muscles that they never knew existed. Suddenly, they have better posture, balance, and feel stronger in their other activities. 

What Do You Like Doing Now? 

Consider what you already enjoy doing or enjoyed doing in the past. Are you a cardio lover or take daily walks? Do you lift 6 days a week? Could you do yoga all day long? These are all great activities and there are hundreds more that help keep us active. In our younger years, it is much easier to do a lot of one thing and not get injured. But, over time, injuries creep in and it’s essential to include strength training, mobility, and flexibility so you can keep doing those things.  Pilates covers all three, so again – it’s a great activity to add to your regular routine. Strength training and cardio are both important, too. 

I’d also encourage you to look at how your current routine makes you feel physically and mentally. If it makes you feel stronger, less stressed, and better in your body, it’s probably a good choice for you. However, if you’re dragging yourself to the gym or to put on your workout clothes every time, it could be a sign to switch things up. Maybe try group fitness if self-directed or personal-training workouts aren’t working anymore, or vice versa. 

Is Your Fitness Routine Balanced?

I’ve been in fitness for a long time, and I’ve seen the same thing happen again and again. People find an exercise they love, they do only that thing for a long time, and one day, their body just quits. I often see it in runners (because runners love to run!), where they run daily and then one day, they just can’t. Or golfers who have played 18 holes twice a week for years, and then their back suddenly goes out. 

Yes, some activities can be safe and balanced enough to be the one and only thing you do, but most need to be supplemented with strength training and mobility and flexibility work. Pilates is great for that, but I still recommend weight lifting to get the perfect mix: Pilates 2-3 times a week, weights 2-3 times a week, plus something for cardio.  

Try Adding Pilates to the Mix

Pilates is a great option for all because it can be taught in a progressive manner and adapted for each person as appropriate. Just today, I met with a new client who has been dealing with chronic pain and no real answers as to why. By watching her do a couple of Pilates exercises, I could immediately tell that we need to focus on helping her find openness across her chest, connecting into her back more, and helping her control her limbs from her core / center. I was able to add in a few exercises around the studio on the smaller apparatus to help her with these things in addition to our regular larger apparatus. 

In the end, Pilates is here to help you move better to do the other things you do. It should be Pilates and… not Pilates or.